Commonwealth Games champions Eleanor Patterson and Rose Davies have kicked on from their Glasgow triumphs, along with double silver medallist Jessica Hull, as Australia’s athletes have continued to shine on the Diamond League circuit in Poland.
All three made the podium at the Diamond League Silesia meet in Chorzów overnight, with high jump champion Patterson soaring to third place, Glasgow 5,000/10,000 metre double winner Davies grabbing bronze in the 5,000m and Hull running her fastest race of the year to finish 1,500m runner-up.
But there was disappointment for Glasgow sprint hero Lachlan Kennedy, who after his Australian-record run for silver at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium, failed to make the 100m final in Chorzów.
Pride of place went to Olympic silver medallist Hull, who tried out new tactics, sitting back in the field in the Silesian Stadium and kicking for home at the top of the straight, only to be reeled in by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma. She needed a 2026 world-leading time of three minutes and 55.06 seconds to pip Hull’s 3:55.20.
“I got caught in the last few metres but it was a big step forwards in confidence today,” said Hull, who is eyeing the inaugural Ultimate Championship in Budapest next month.
“That’s the fastest I’ve run all year and we have some good races to come over the next few weeks.”
Davies earned her second career Diamond League podium as she pursued Italian favourite Nadia Battocletti, fresh from her own 5,000/10,000 double at the European Championships.
Davies eventually finished third in 14:55.39, pipped by Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Battocletti, who won in 14:54.09.
“Every race is a step forward and to come top three at a Diamond League shows I’m in good form,” Davies said.
“I really look up to Battocletti, she’s a great athlete and I would love to be like her.”
Australia’s Eleanor Patterson earned bronze during the women’s high jump final. (Getty Images: Maja Hitij)
Patterson again defeated teammate, world champion Nicola Olyslagers, just as she had done in Glasgow when they took gold and silver.
It was a strong effort considering Patterson was battling illness, but she had to settle for third behind Ukrainian rivals, Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Iryna Gerashchenko.
Kennedy took his first strides back on the international circuit after his historic 9.85sec silver medal-winning run in Glasgow, but his 10.08sec run in the heats in Chorzów was not enough to earn him a place in the final, which was later won by Jamaica’s world champion, Oblique Seville, in a searing 9.83sec.
“I didn’t come out as well as I would’ve liked but I’m just trying to shake the rust off a bit. I’ll get back into some training and better form — I’m happy,” Kennedy said.
Triple Commonwealth pole vault champion Kurtis Marschall cleared 5.90m but it only earned him fifth place while his mate Armand Duplantis earned yet another effortless triumph with a 6.20m winner.
Queensland’s two-time Diamond League champion Matthew Denny finished eighth in the discus (66.38m), as Lithuania’s world record holder Mykolas Alekna won with a competition record 72.58m.
The international highlight was world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden handing Olympic champion Julien Alfred her first loss of the season to win the women’s 100m, 10.78sec to 10.83.
AAP
By
